How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the way English is taught as a foreign language?

Dear Dr. Al-Maktary!

You raised a very important issue. Covid-19 enforced the role of online - learning platforms in studying foreign languages. May I claim that the answer is a case and context-dependent one:

1) Jiang, P., Namaziandost, E., Azizi, Z. et al. Exploring the effects of online learning on EFL learners’ motivation, anxiety, and attitudes during the COVID-19 pandemic: a focus on Iran. Curr Psychol 42, 2310–2324 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-04013-x, Available at:

Article Exploring the effects of online learning on EFL learners' mo...

2) Linling, Z., & Abdullah, R. (2023). The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Flipped Classroom for EFL Courses: A Systematic Literature Review. SAGE Open, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440221148149, Open access: Article The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Flipped Classroom for EFL...

3) Sun, P. P., & Luo, X. (2023). Understanding English-as-a-foreign-language university teachers' synchronous online teaching satisfaction: A Chinese perspective. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcal.12891, Available at: Article Understanding English‐as‐a‐foreign‐language university teach...

4) Mansfield, J., Smith, K., Adams, M. et al. Valuing COVID-19 as an opportunity to understand teacher agency. J Educ Change (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10833-023-09488-4, Open access: Article Valuing COVID-19 as an opportunity to understand teacher agency

Yours sincerely, Bulcsu Szekely

Mayada Nageeb Al-Maktary

Thank you for sharing those additional resources. It appears that the impact of online learning on foreign language education during the COVID-19 pandemic is a topic of significant interest. The articles you provided offer valuable insights into various aspects of this issue.

Marta A. Karp

Shift to Online Learning:With the closure of schools and educational institutions, there has been a rapid shift towards online learning. English language teachers and students have had to adapt to virtual classrooms, utilizing video conferencing tools and online platforms for lessons and assignments.

Increased Use of Educational Technology:The pandemic has accelerated the integration of educational technology in English language teaching. Teachers are using a variety of tools, such as interactive apps, language learning platforms, and digital resources to engage students in online environments.

Flexibility in Scheduling:Online learning has brought about more flexibility in scheduling. Students can access recorded lessons, participate in discussion forums, and complete assignments at their own pace, allowing for a more personalized learning experience.

Focus on Digital Literacy:English language education now includes a greater emphasis on digital literacy skills. Students learn how to navigate online resources, critically evaluate information, and communicate effectively in digital environments—all essential skills in the 21st century.

Challenges in Access and Equity:The shift to online learning has highlighted issues related to access and equity. Not all students have equal access to technology and a reliable internet connection. This disparity has led to concerns about the potential exacerbation of educational inequalities.

Adaptation of Assessment Methods:Traditional methods of assessing language proficiency, such as in-person exams, have faced challenges. Teachers have had to explore alternative assessment methods, including online exams, oral assessments via video conferencing, and the use of AI tools for language evaluation.

Global Collaboration and Cultural Exchange:Despite the challenges, online learning has opened up opportunities for global collaboration and cultural exchange. English language learners can connect with speakers of English from around the world, providing authentic language practice and exposure to diverse cultural contexts.

Professional Development for Teachers:Teachers have had to undergo professional development to enhance their skills in delivering effective online instruction. This includes learning how to use new technologies, adapting teaching methods for virtual environments, and addressing the unique challenges of online language education.

Hybrid Models of Instruction:Some educational institutions are adopting hybrid models that combine both in-person and online instruction. This allows for flexibility and a blend of traditional and modern teaching approaches.

Emphasis on Communicative Competence:With the limitations of face-to-face interaction, there is a greater emphasis on developing communicative competence in English. Teachers strive to create interactive and engaging online activities that promote language use and meaningful communication.

Mayada Nageeb Al-Maktary

Marta A. Karp

Thank you for providing this information.

It's worth noting that the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on how English is taught as a foreign language, with the shift to online learning presenting both opportunities and challenges for English language teachers. It has changed the way teachers deliver instruction, requiring them to adapt to new technologies and experiment with new teaching methods in order to achieve effective language learning outcomes.

Can we distinguish the type of free fluid inside the pelvic and abdominal cavities whether blood or serous fluid using the ultrasound?

The reason that the culture of white fungi Contamination with green mold(Trichoderma), the culture autoclave at121 for 15 min. What is it?

Is there a fast method matching citations to bibliography (manually typed references)?

Can I put a figure that was drawn by Bio-Render in publication paper?

What is the most suitable medium of ascomycetes fungi ??

Is it possible to set a breakpoint at a specific DYNAMIC instruction using the GNU Debugger (GDB)?

Is it possible that Cancer cells could survive in heparinized blood for 48 hours?

What is the most prevalent drug related problem in the developed countries?

What are the dimensions by which the independent variable (big data) can be measured, Knowing We using the questionnaire instrument?

Is nanotechnology part of materials science? Is it possible to obtain Pico technology and move from hypothesis to application?

Which of the Covid-19 Vaccines would elicit the best immunoprotection and why?

Research on Supply Chain Management in Indian context?

Is there any rich, publicly available English literary corpus?

Which is suitable for use with Python? MySQL or SQL Server?

How vaccines of covid 19 work?

Where can I find public datasets with Covid-19 patient information?

Is there any published or unpublished statistics on dropout rate (Dose1 to Dose-2) for Covid-19 vaccination in India, US, UK or any other country?

If a given country passes mandatory 'vaccine passport rule' to go outdoors, otherwise stay at home, can it help to vaccinate all against COVID-19?

How long do vaccines protect us against COVID 19?

What are the patterns of human behavior that lead to COVID-19 infections?